The Ford Raptor: More Than Just a Big Truck

What do you do for an encore, when you have the best-selling truck 28 years running? That's the fortunate dilemma Ford faced, with their popular F150 pickup. Their follow up was to build a special model that took the truck beyond anything they had delivered to this point -- the F150 SVT Raptor. Patterned after the extreme off-road vehicles that battle the harsh Baja desert terrain in off-road racing, the Raptor is a complete package, using the F150 platform as the starting point. Let's take a closer look at what makes this latest installment from Ford warrant the name Raptor.

Specifications

From a distance, the Raptor looks like the standard F150 in a 4X4 version, but when you get closer, it's readily apparent that this 4-wheeler sets higher off the ground and sports bigger tires than the standard truck. The F150 SVT Raptor, with "FORD" emblazoned in big letters across the blacked out grill, has no chrome, and very little other embellishments, besides a little splash of color graphics and "RAPTOR" in bold lettering on its bed. All it takes is one look at this super truck, and you'll know it has been built for some serious off-roading. You can opt for a no-frills, plain-Jane interior, or, for the gentleman desert racer, a full array of creature comforts.

Here are just some of the performance upgrades, brought to you by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT), that make the Raptor a force to be reckoned with, on- and off-road:

• Engine: 6.2L with 411 HP/434 ft-lb,
• Drive Train: Sure Grip Front Differential transfers power to the wheels, with more traction and full lockable rear wheels,
• Transmission: 6 Speed with on-the-fly electronic shift to 4-wheel drive and hill descent control,
• Suspension: 11" front-wheel travel, 12" rear-wheel travel, and FOX Racing Sox,
• Tires: 35" LT315/70R17 all-terrain tires,
• Off-Road: 7" wider stance than standard F150, heavier suspension components, and skid plate,
• Terrain maneuvering drive display: Vehicle pitch and roll graphics,and
• Camera: front and rear.

The Raptor is available in extended cab or crew cab.
The Ride

When I was offered an opportunity to take a ride in a Raptor at the Carlisle Ford Nationals, I didn't hesitate. I certainly wasn't going to miss the chance for a first-hand look at what this desert hot rod could do. To demonstrate the vehicles prowess off-road, our driver, Nick, drove us around a course specially set up with hill side angles, built-up ramps, and offset speed bumps. First, the truck's stability was demonstrated by driving onto the side of a hill. Although we seemed to be precariously hanging there, the Raptor was in complete control. A special display on the dash provides the roll and pitch, which were 17 degrees and 4 degrees, respectively, and the direction of the wheel turn. Nick then moved off the hill. But, before reaching the next obstacle, he explained the front view camera display, with the projected approach lines. As the steering wheel turns, the lines change, similar to the display in an airplane cockpit, but instead of flying the friendly skies, the Ford Raptor is blazing the best off-road trail. Apparently, Nick had reached the end of his patience for slow driving, so he mashed on the accelerator, and we shot up the next hill. Despite the heavy-body truck, there was no shortage of power, but when Nick applied the brakes on the other side of the hill, the beast quickly came to a stop. In a final demonstration, Nick took the Raptor through a series of staged speed bumps to show us how the truck's wheels move independently of each other, to smooth out holes and bumps in the road.

The Verdict

What's not to like -- power, control, and front video, to aide in off-roading. All this is available in today's most popular pickup design, with the choice to have luxury upgrades made to the cab of the truck. It's like buying a custom Baja racer, but with a warranty. In case you're wondering how much all this costs, entry level for the Raptor is about $44,000. From there, you can begin adding on from Ford's long list of available options.

The Shelby Raptor

Fortunately, Shelby American can't leave a good thing alone. So, they've decided to make an already fast truck even faster by offering the Shelby Raptor, with a supercharged engine that turns out 575 horsepower. As well as providing a performance boost of more than 150 horsepower, Shelby American offers three Shelby graphic packages, unique wheels, light bars, roll bar, and an increasingly expanding list of optional equipment. Dirt and sand don't stand a chance against this machine.

Source: Ford's Raptor